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And the have the support contract for the op-scan we use for absentees.
We had a problem with them in 2002.
Sequoia’s Press Release
Sequoia Voting Systems assumed the service contract from Snohomish County's previous vendor for Optech equipment in August 2002. In December 2002, Snohomish County alerted Sequoia of tabulation anomalies with the Optech Equipment. An audit report log indicated that these anomalies were isolated to two machines.
In January of 2003 a physical examination was completed of all of the Snohomish County Optech IV-C's. The result of the examination confirmed that there was no evidence of catastrophic or fatal errors. However, when a new test ballot was made that used a variety of pens, it was evident that the Optech IV-C's did not read all of the test ballots the same. Some would read all of the marks, some would read most of the marks and some would read only a few of the marks.
Further examination showed that one channel on the top readhead of #7 and one channel on the bottom readhead of #3 were among the worst at accurately reading all of the ink marks. Those channels corresponded with the races that showed a greater number of undervotes. It should be noted, however, that theses readers still tested as "OIC' with the standard sensitivity test ballot.
The readheads that were identified as a concern were replaced. The replacement readheads were then tested in machines #7 and #3, and were able to read all of the test marks on the newly marked test ballots using each of the various marking devices. The identified readheads were returned to our Oakland facility for further examination and testing.
The examination of the readheads in question revealed that there was some degradation of LED performance with age. It appears that as the LED's aged, their output slowly reduced, but not to the point of catastrophic failure. When the light output of the readheads in question was measured, it averaged about 500 - 700 millicandela per channel. The replacement readheads average between I 000 to 1200 millicandela. When the light bars from the readheads in question were replaced with new light bars and recalibrated, they read all of the inks all of the time.
The initial L & A Test executed on November 4, 2002, prior to the running of live ballots did not produce any area of concern, due to the controlled environment of the writing device. As a result of the findings of the analysis, a newly designed test is being developed using a printed test ballot. In the future this new test will be able to detect exactly when the LED's have degraded to an unacceptable level and need to be replaced.
Sequoia Voting Systems assumed the service contract from Snohomish County's previous vendor for Optech equipment in August 2002. In December 2002, Snohomish County alerted Sequoia of tabulation anomalies with the Optech Equipment. An audit report log indicated that these anomalies were isolated to two machines.
In January of 2003 a physical examination was completed of all of the Snohomish County Optech IV-C's. The result of the examination confirmed that there was no evidence of catastrophic or fatal errors. However, when a new test ballot was made that used a variety of pens, it was evident that the Optech IV-C's did not read all of the test ballots the same. Some would read all of the marks, some would read most of the marks and some would read only a few of the marks.
Further examination showed that one channel on the top readhead of #7 and one channel on the bottom readhead of #3 were among the worst at accurately reading all of the ink marks. Those channels corresponded with the races that showed a greater number of undervotes. It should be noted, however, that theses readers still tested as "OK!' with the standard sensitivity test ballot.
The readheads that were identified as a concern were replaced. The replacement readheads were then tested in machines #7 and #3, and were able to read all of the test marks on the newly marked test ballots using each of the various marking devices. The identified readheads were returned to our Oakland facility for further examination and testing.
The examination of the readheads in question revealed that there was some degradation of LED performance with age. It appears that as the LED's aged, their output slowly reduced, but not to the point of catastrophic failure. When the light output of the readheads in question was measured, it averaged about 500 - 700 millicandela per channel. The replacement readheads average between I 000 to 1200 millicandela. When the light bars from the readheads in question were replaced with new light bars and recalibrated, they read all of the inks all of the time.
The initial L & A Test executed on November 4, 2002, prior to the running of live ballots did not produce any area of concern, due to the controlled environment of the writing device. As a result of the findings of the analysis, a newly designed test is being developed using a printed test ballot. In the future this new test will be able to detect exactly when the LED's have degraded to an unacceptable level and need to be replaced.
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